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Harvey Weinstein’s Best-Picture Contender Meets with the Pope

Philomena may not seem like the best-picture frontrunner going into next month’s Oscars, but as of today, it is the only candidate to have seemingly received a formal blessing by the Pope. On Wednesday, Pope Francis met with the real-life Philomena Lee (who is played by best-actress nominee Judi Dench in the film), Lee’s daughter, Jane Libberton, and the film’s co-star, co-writer, and producer, Steve Coogan.

According to The Guardian, the trio attended mass in St. Peter’s Square before meeting with his holiness—there formally to represent the Philomena Project, “a campaign which calls on the Irish government to enact legislation to open up adoption records and reunite mothers separated from their children as a result of forced adoption.” The film is expected to screen at the Vatican this afternoon, however, a spokesman for Pope Francis clarified that he will not be viewing the film because “it is important to avoid using the Pope as part of a marketing strategy.” (As if Harvey Weinstein would ever dream of using the pope's stature—or the president's, for that matter—as part of a marketing campaign.)

Philomena is the Weinstein Co.’s only best-picture contender in next month’s Oscar race. In November, President Obama hosted a special White House event for another Weinstein-backed picture, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Directed by Stephen Frears, Philomena tells the real-life story of its subject, who as a teenager, was forced to give up her child for adoption at the insistence of the Catholic Church.

Tomorrow, a Philomena Lee–related press conference is scheduled at the Vatican.